softly, softly, catch the monkey

softly, softly, catch the monkey

A slow and careful way of resolving an issue or achieving some pursuit, typically when dealing with a particularly challenging or elusive person, thing, or situation. Don't you worry, we'll lull that crook into a false sense of security and then trap him—softly, softly, catch the monkey. The media giant spent decades adding various companies to its empire, and now it finally has a stranglehold on the entire entertainment industry. Slowly, slowly catch the monkey, as they say.
See also: catch, monkey
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • softly, softly, catchee monkey
  • hold an eel by the tail
  • go a long way in (doing something)
  • go a long way toward
  • go a long way toward (doing something)
  • go a long way toward doing
  • go a long/some way towards doing something
  • not have a hope in hell
  • not have a hope in hell (of doing something)
  • catch lightning in a bottle